How to fix "Operation cannot be performed because message has been changed" message. when using Outlook and Gmail.

Anonymous

Over the last two years, I have been using Outlook 2013, now Office 365. I've been experiencing an ongoing issue where I receive this message "Operation cannot be performed because message has been changed" message. Typical scenarios: 1) A new email arrives in my Outlook inbox. I preview, or read the email. I attempt to delete the email. Operation cannot... message appears. I either type a new email, or reply to an email, go on to another task leaving the draft until later. When I return to the draft email, complete the email, and attempt to send the email, Operation cannot... message appears. I also cannot even save the draft, same error message. This is the worst part of this bug, as I've wasted/lost the time effort spent on the draft email.

I have run the Office repair utilities. I have tried unchecking the email cleanup boxes, and a variety of fixes recommended on these Microsoft answers communities. I've noticed sometimes when I come back to a message, it does allow me to move/delete the message. It's like there's a sync issue that needs time to resolve. However, nothing appears to work when a draft message gets hung in this loop. I have to start over with a new reply email.

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Anonymous

2021-02-10T17:20:58+00:00

Michael, I doubt you have any idea how uninformed you sound. First, Outlook is used in most enterprise IT environments because it's the most powerful and full-featured product available of its type. It generally works very well. Take it from someone who's worked in IT for 25 years and spent many hours working with and configuring Outlook.

In contrast, you're bent out of shape over what appears to be a single bug.

But more importantly -- despite your rant directed at "Mr. Gates," he's been . . . wait for it . . . retired from the company for years. He's had absolutely no role in developing their products since his retirement. This error alone proves that you have no idea what you're talking about.
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Anonymous

2021-02-03T10:14:07+00:00

Oops, sorry to hear that & bloody annoying.

I always do a quick copy before I go into draft in box to delete. Should have said. Sorry.

Next 9 are going to be fine. And....relax....
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Anonymous

2021-02-03T02:52:26+00:00

Hi LA

I hit the 1 in ten late evening today.

Delete the draft, went back to the open email and it was not there.

Ah well, I will still continue with your method

Feeling safer now that I had my 1 in 10

STAY SAFE
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Anonymous

2021-02-03T01:16:50+00:00

The 1 out of 10 times I have to revert back to copying and pasting into a fresh e-mail and haven't figured out yet why the 1 in 10 occurs.

Yep - we seem to live in a world of 'workarounds', a trendy word used to excuse software floors. They cost us time, which defeats the point and definitely NOT what we're sold at outset of course. Many of these floors are stunningly fundamental and mostly in my experience, on the online softwares that we use nowadays. Feels like we are being pushed into online convenience at the expense of desktop functionality, not to mention far higher ongoing subscription fees as opposed to one off license purchases that lasted for years.

There's my moan for the day. Maybe..!
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Anonymous

2021-02-01T16:39:42+00:00

Thanks LA

Your suggestion tested and works fine.

But the "9 times out of 10" worries a little.

GeorgeV
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